Source: Charlotte Hornets consider Jay Triano for coaching staff

Jay Triano, most recently the interim coach of the Phoenix Suns, is a candidate to be on new Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego’s staff, an NBA source confirmed.

It’s common for first-time head coaches in the NBA to hire former head coaches as a resource. Former Hornets coach Steve Clifford had Bob Weiss on his staff in that role for several seasons, and when Weiss took a job with the Denver Nuggets, Clifford hired former head coach Eddie Jordan.

David Pick, who covers international basketball, first reported Triano as a Hornets candidate on Twitter Tuesday morning.

Triano, a Canadian who grew up in Niagara Falls, coached the Toronto Raptors for three seasons between 2008 and 2011. He coached the last 79 games last season with the Suns after that franchise fired Earl Watson. Triano was considered for the permanent job before the Suns hired Utah Jazz assistant Igor Kokoskov.

Triano, 59, played professionally in Mexico and Turkey and played on the Canadian national team in the Olympics in 1984 and ’86. He has also served as Canadian men’s national team coach.

Triano got his start as an NBA assistant with the Raptors in 2002. He spent four seasons as an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers before being named Watson’s top assistant with the Suns in 2016.

This story was originally published May 15, 2018 at 6:19 PM with the headline "Source: Charlotte Hornets consider Jay Triano for coaching staff."